VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

Registration will close soon for two sports - Golf and Sailing – are nearing capacity

Cologne, Germany / 21 Sept 2009 – The organizers of the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, announced today that more than 1,700 athletes and artists have now registered to participate in the quadrennial sports & cultural event next July and August.


Participants from more than 30 nations have already signed up including many from Eastern European countries where being many who are openly gay & lesbian are still persecuted. Participation by the host country Germany leads all other nations with registrations from the United States and The Netherlands following close behind.

“Registrations have increased substantially in the last few months,” said Annette Wachter, CEO of Games Cologne. “Summer LGBT sports programs in North America and Europe have helped drive registrations from the USA, Canada and Europe. The approach of the southern hemisphere’s summer has also increased registrations from Australia and South Africa. We are on target to have participation levels of 8,000 to 10,000 next July and August in Cologne.”

“Now is the time to register for the 2010 Gay Games,” urged Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), co-presidents of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). “Early registration secures a participant’s spot in a sport or cultural event that may otherwise sell out, and allows Cologne to better plan for next summer’s 8th Gay Games.” FGG delegates from around the world will get a chance to review Cologne’s preparations as they head to the German host city September 26 to October 2, 2009, for its Annual meeting.

Gay Games VIII runs from July 31 to August 7, 2010, and will open with an inspiring Opening Ceremony at RheinEnergie Stadium, the city’s football (soccer) stadium. Up to 48,000 people are expected at the Opening Ceremony according to Andrea Müller, head of the Games Cologne Ceremony & Culture Task Force. Entertainment has not yet been announced but past Gay Games performers have included Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Erasure’s Andy Bell and Heather Small.

The Gay Games are a quadrennial sports and cultural festival founded in 1982 by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete. Celebrated every four years, the Gay Games motto is “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best.” The Cologne Gay Games have their own motto: “Be part of it!” Everybody is able to attend at the Gay Games – without any qualification. Registration is open at www.games-cologne.com

Drawing up to 12,000 participants – more than the Olympic Games – previous Gay Games have been held in San Francisco (1982, 1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002) and Chicago (2006).